I Knew There Was A Reason I Love Borges
I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library. — Jose Luis Borges
Well, in my Paradise, it wouldn’t exactly be a library1 because I would want to eat gooey caramel-filled chocolates and take bubble baths while I read. Real libraries frown on that sort of reckless behavior.
“Libraries” make you keep their books at arm’s length, and I’ve always been of the opinion that you should love your books hard. Live with them. Write in them. Get chocolate on them when you lose yourself in the words and have a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup melt in your page-turning hand. I’ve dropped a few of my books in the bathtub, and a great deal have some humidity damage.2 People with pristine books make me suspicious: Have you actually read your books? How can one tell?
I am careful with books I borrow from other people, certainly, but those times are few and far between. I confess to having no self control in book stores and, frankly, I don’t want to.
I recall reading in one of those “declutter your house” books an author theorized that books represent knowledge and people are reluctant to part with them because owning books means you own the knowledge in the book. He also says, and I quote, “If they don’t fit on your shelves, they shouldn’t be in your home.”
Well, I don’t believe small children should be in a home until they’re toilet trained and can dress themselves, so I’ll let him slide by with that specious comment.
* * * * *- ”Library” in the sense of “lending library” as opposed to “large collection of books.” [↩]
- I’ve been known to buy two copies of the same text, one in hardcover and one in softcover, so that I could have “bathtub reading.” I won’t take my slip-cased hard-bound versions of the Patrick O’Brian novels into the tub with me; although, upon reflection, I could re-enact some of the great battles of the British Navy with sponges, shampoo bottles, and cakes of soap. [↩]
August 26th, 2007 at 11:58 am
Hey! I just stumbled across your blog and I couldn’t agree more. My boyfriend and I just moved, and I was amazed to realize how many books we had - most of his possessions were various books we’d picked up throughout the year, and the more battered they were, the more I love them.
And as for dropping books in the bathtub…well, isn’t it a fact of life. My mother made rules about reading in the bathtub when I was younger, but eventually gave up and bought me a bathtub book stand thing from Levenger. Best Christmas present ever!
August 28th, 2007 at 10:17 am
I like your theory of a “large collection of books”!
Have Gregor and Emma stopped making strange paw gestures yet? (Bug and Moana appreciated their solidarity. We have come to an agreement: they are free to lounge slug-like on the couch or scramble around the house on a crazed rampage at their whim. None of this “posing” for knitwear photos — unless they feel like it… or are too sleepy to protest…)